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Firing By Denver Nuggets bizarre ending to George Karl era

ByBENJAMIN HOCHMAN The Denver Post

Posted:
06/07/2013 03:42:08 PM MDT

For the spiritual coach, who would talk about karma and basketball gods like X's and O's, the curse was real. "Coach of the year? I'm not sure I want that legacy," George Karl said in April when it appeared he might win the NBA award. "Have you seen what happens to guys who win coach of the year?"

Some winners of that award lost their jobs just a season later, he pointed out.

After receiving the award, Karl lost his job 29 days later.

Nuggets president Josh Kroenke fired Karl on Thursday in a bizarre ending to sometimes celebrated, sometimes complicated nine seasons in Denver. Indiana Pacers assistant Brian Shaw and Memphis Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins are the early front-runners as possible replacements, a league source said.

Kroenke informed Karl, 62, early Thursday that he would not bring him back. Kroenke said the combination of Karl pushing for a contract extension, and the uncertainty surrounding Karl's possible interest in the Los Angeles Clippers job this week, led him to believe it was best to go in another direction.

Nuggets ownership was steadfast that Karl would need to finish out the final season on his current contract before rewarding a coach who hadn't won a playoff series since 2009.

"I have high praise for the way Josh Kroenke handled this situation -- he was always sincere and straightforward," said Karl's agent, Warren LeGarie. "And when it came time to make a decision, he made one.

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Karl, who was hired in January 2005, sent out a tweet around noon: "I want to thank Nuggets fans for their support over the past 8 yrs. The karma on the street was incredible. Denver will always be home." Later, Karl tweeted: "It's a sad day for me, my staff and my family. Difficult decision to understand but memories with the Nuggets are the best I've ever had."

He did not return calls seeking comment.

The Nuggets are now in a battle as fierce as any first-round playoff opponent has given them. Shaw is in demand, with the Clippers and Brooklyn Nets also having shown interest in the former NBA guard, according to a league source. Hollins' contract is up in Memphis and the Grizzlies have encouraged him to look around, though they are coming off an appearance in the Western Conference finals.

Karl may not be out of a job for long. He remains a candidate with the Clippers, a source said, and USA Today reported that Karl's camp was in brief discussions Thursday with Memphis.

"It's obviously a pretty volatile situation to be a head coach in the NBA," San Antonio Spurs coach and longtime Karl friend Gregg Popovich told reporters Thursday before Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

The Nuggets won 57 games this season, a team NBA franchise record, and Karl was named coach of the year. But only one of Karl's Denver teams, in 2009, advanced past the first round of the playoffs -- a detail pointed out in the team's news release Thursday.

Karl's ouster comes on the heels of general manager Masai Ujiri leaving last week to take a similar job with the Toronto Raptors.

"So, we lost a GM now and a coach, what's next?" tweeted Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried.

Nuggets point guard Ty Lawson was stunned. In a text message to The Denver Post, the team's top player said: "All of this is crazy and unexpected, don't know what to say."

Kroenke believes he can attract an outstanding coach based on the young talent on the roster.

Denver entered last season with the third-youngest team in the league and finished third in the Western Conference.

Kroenke has scheduled a news conference for 11 a.m. Friday to discuss the firing of Karl. Nuggets assistant general manager Pete D'Alessandro is the front-runner to replace Ujiri, though Kroenke may look at possible candidates outside the organization.

One of the key story lines for the Nuggets, in addition to filling their GM and coaching chairs, is what will happen with guard Andre Iguodala, who can opt out of his $16 million contract for next season and become a free agent. Iguodala was asked by text Thursday if the changes at coach and GM will affect his decision to stay with Denver. "Not sure, I need some time to let it sink in," he replied.

Karl had a 423-257 record as Denver's coach.

An optimist could say the Nuggets are still in good shape with a young, deep nucleus under contract. A pessimist would point out the Nuggets just lost the coach of the year and executive of the year, they could lose Iguodala and they won't have Danilo Gallinari for half the season as he recovers from knee surgery.

Asked about the Karl news, Gallinari said: "I did not expect it. Now I trust Pete D'Alessando and Josh to make the right decisions for the future. I don't know. I've been with him for three years. I knew it was the last year of his contract (coming up) and we had a chance to do something good next season. It was great to be coached by him, one of the most winningest coaches in the NBA. It was an honor to be coached by him."

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